Advanced standing means recognition of a course you’ve passed in another education institution as counting for credits as part of a program of studies at the University of Ottawa.

An exemption is not advanced standing. Exemptions are granted when the University recognizes that, as a group, all the courses passed at another institution meet the educational objectives of a course required for a University of Ottawa program. You don’t have to take the course you’re exempted from, but you must replace the credits with credits from another course (in the same discipline or an elective).

To take courses, or to take part in activities such as discussion groups, labs or internships, you must register by the deadline indicated on the “Important dates and deadlines” page. You will not receive the credits or a grade for a course or an activity, if you are not registered. You can’t register or change your registration after the deadlines indicated.

The Fall session runs from September to December, the Winter session runs from January to April and the Spring/Summer session runs from May to August. See the Important dates and deadlines page for the start and end dates for the current year.

Professors must start courses at the time indicated on the course timetable and finish ten minutes before the time indicated. See the Course Timetable

Your professor will give you a syllabus or course outline during your first class of the session. The terms “course outline” and “syllabus” are interchangeable.

• a course description
• the general and specific course objectives
• the teaching methods
• how you will be assessed and how your grade will be calculated
• a list of required and suggested readings
• the dates of course activities and evaluations (tests, exams)
• the professor’s contact information and office hours
• the teaching assistant’s contact information and office hours
• mention of the University’s regulation on plagiarism and academic fraud

Regulation 8.5

If you want to change undergraduate programs of study within your faculty, we recommend that you complete at least 24 credits, meet the particular admission requirements and receive your faculty’s permission. See the list of undergraduate programs and courses for more information. Please visit your faculty’s website to download a change of program form.

To change faculties, you must make a request to the Admissions Office and complete the online application for undergraduate admission (fees apply). See the application deadlines. Your new faculty decides which of your courses count towards your program.

If you’re an undergraduate student in a direct-entry faculty (Arts, Telfer, Science, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering), you can register for up to 15 credits per session (for example, the Fall session—September to December), unless the program requires that you take a greater number (for example, mechanical engineering programs). Generally, a course that lasts for one session is worth three credits. If you want to register for more than 15 credits, you must get permission from your faculty and have maintained an annual grade point average (AGPA) of 6.0 or higher in the previous year.

If you want to pass a course or simply improve your grade, you can repeat the course, if you are registered in an undergraduate program of 90 credits or more(except for in the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section or Undergraduate Medical Education).

This is subject to specific requirements of certain programs (for example, internships).

The following conditions apply:

1. All courses taken and repeated appear on your transcript.
2. For the first 15 credits you repeat, your most recent grade replaces your previous grade and is included in your average. A failing grade can replace a previous passing grade.
3. If you receive a failing grade in a compulsory course the second time you take it, after passing it the first time, you still have to take it again.
4. Priority for registration is given to students who have failed the course in question or who have never taken it.
5. You can’t repeat a course you have successfully completed that is a prerequisite for another course you have already taken and passed.

Regulation 5.6

Yes. To meet your program’s requirements, you may have to take a certain number of electives (courses that you choose among all courses the University offers). To see what’s available, see the Courses offered at the University of Ottawa or the Electives without prerequisites. Keep in mind that for certain courses, you must have met the prerequisites and that there are limited places in certain courses for students from outside the faculty.

Regulation 5.4

Yes, it’s possible. The University of Ottawa has signed agreements with Carleton University, Saint Paul University and Dominican University College enabling students to take courses at these institutions without having to pay additional tuition fees. Please note that if the course you want to take is also offered here during the same session, you will not be allowed to take it elsewhere. Other regulations apply as well. Please contact your faculty.

If you wish to take a course at a university that the University of Ottawa has not signed an agreement with, you must get duly complete the letter of permission and receive approval from your faculty before registering for the course and you must pay tuition fees to the institution in question.

A letter of permission allows you to make a request to take course at a university with which the University of Ottawa doesn’t have an agreement.

When there is an agreement between the University of Ottawa and another institution, you don’t need a letter of permission to take courses. You just need to have your request approved by your faculty and by the institution where you will be taking courses. The procedure is different for each institution.

To take courses at Carleton University, you must

1. Complete the Exchange Program University of Ottawa-Carleton University (Undergraduate) form.
2. Have the form approved by the Carleton University Registrar’s Office and meet the Carleton registration requirements.
3. Bring the approved form to InfoService to complete your registration and to pay the fees for your courses at both universities.

It is important that you complete this process before the registration deadlines.

To take courses at Saint Paul University, register in person at your faculty.

1. Complete the exchange form (which you can get from your faculty).
2. Have the form approved by your faculty or department.
3. Have the form approved by the Dominican University College Office of the Registrar and meet the college’s registration requirements.
4. Bring the approved form to InfoService to complete your registration and pay the fees for your courses at both universities.

You can only take courses that meet your program requirements.

To get a letter of permission, you must first meet your faculty’s academic standing requirements. Your faculty must receive your request for a letter of permission before April 15 for the Spring-Summer session, before August 15 for the Fall session and before December 15 for the Winter session.

If you take a course at another university without receiving a letter of permission, the course will not be recognized, except for in exceptional circumstances.

Please be aware that grades you receive from Carleton University, Saint Paul University and Dominican University College are included in your University of Ottawa cumulative grade point average. Grades you receive from other universities aren’t included in your grade point average. You receive a CR or NC (Credited Course or No Credits) grade on your transcript.

You must have an official transcript sent to your University of Ottawa faculty or school at the end of the session. Otherwise, you will receive an NC (No Credits) grade on your transcript.

If you drop your course(s) or decide not to register for one or more of them, you must inform your University of Ottawa faculty or school in writing by the stipulated deadline. Otherwise, you will receive an NC (No Credits) grade on your transcript.

Courses you take at another university with a letter of permission don’t count towards the University of Ottawa residency requirements, that is, the number of credits you’ve received for courses taken at the University of Ottawa.

Regulation 6

You can do an internship or a session of studies abroad as part of an international exchange program approved by the University of Ottawa.

The content and hours of instruction of the courses you want to take abroad must meet University of Ottawa requirements, and you must get them approved before your departure.

You have to register for the equivalent of a normal full-time University of Ottawa course load. As well, the number of credits you’re taking must be fully applicable towards your program. Therefore, you must be sure that you have a sufficient number of credits left to complete before you start the administrative procedures necessary to go on an exchange.

If you receive a passing grade for one or more courses you’ve taken at a university abroad, you automatically receive credit for the course(s) in question.

For more information on international exchanges, visit the International Office website.

If you’re registered full time and you’ve passed all your courses at a foreign partner institution, the University will renew your scholarship or bursary even if it is one that is renewed only if you maintain a specific grade point average.

Regulation 6.5